Topic: Nintendo World Report's Top 20 3DS Games (So Far)

[Soren]

Oh right, you're the crazy person who hates 3D Land.

Says the pot to the kettle.

[Evan_B]

If that game comes remotely close to the top five on this list... well, I guess it will just further affirm that people are satisfied with shoddy 3D Mario design.

I mean, I love 3D World, so you have to understand that it's not insanity that drives me. It's just knowing that Nintendo's portable Mario games had such a higher quality in terms of controls, level design, music, and difficulty and instead people praise them for the most generic entry in the franchise.

But hey, that's not what this topic is about!

[Phil]

I find Nintendo had weak games on DS, too. New Super Mario Bros. to me is the weakest in the NSMB series, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is widely considered a poor Zelda, Wario: Master of Disguise is not very good, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon is inferior to Awakening, Animal Crossing: New Leaf is superior to Wild World, but it also goes the other way, too.

I think the 3DS library is only getting better, and I would hazard a guess that it will have a better library than the DS by the time all is said and done.

[Khushrenada]

I feel this has been discussed and mentioned before but I think it is pretty hard to disagree that most franchises that appear on the DS have a better entry on the 3DS. The only one that I feel that isn't true about is Mario Kart. 7 is weaker than MK DS. Unless Evan_B really thinks NSMB is better than Land 3D or NSMB2, then the Mario franchise is stronger on the 3DS than it is on the DS by default as it were.

It's like how the Metroid franchise is stronger on the DS because it has Hunters and Pinball and the 3DS lets you download Metroid NES or Metroid 2.

[NWR_insanolord]

Oh right, you're the crazy person who hates 3D Land.

Says the pot to the kettle.

Hey, to my credit, I have never once claimed to not be crazy, and I only express the opinions you're referring to in the way I do purely to piss people off.

If that game comes remotely close to the top five on this list... well, I guess it will just further affirm that people are satisfied with shoddy 3D Mario design.

I haven't looked at the final list, but I'd be absolutely shocked if it weren't near the top. I can tell you I had it at #1 (though then again I had Mutant Mudds at #2, so that's not necessarily the greatest indicator).

[Evan_B]

I'm glad we at least agree that Mutant Mudds is a fantastic title.

I plan on going back to NSMB in the future, but from what I recall it and NSMBWii are the better titles than 2 and U. 2 is the most uninspired and U only benefits from the world map. Also, DS had SM64 which is better than 3D Land and NSMB2 combined.

But I do feel the discussion has veered in the wrong direction- where are the third party experiments? Where are the RPGs? Where is the volume of the 3DS library? Too often I see the same games being thrown around, which makes sense because some of them are good, but I am surprised by the lack of independent recommendations, and disappointed when I see the glaring flaws of titles like Mirror of Fate, or anything remotely related to Sonic. Even games like Henry Hatsworth and Contact are absent, or come in the form of eShop games, which there's a lot of but only a select few are stellar.

I already see the 3DS losing steam- they're throwing a free to play Pokemon Shuffle up, a new IP, a remake (it's quality nonwithstanding) and a new Fire Emblem out this year. I only want one of those things. Coupled with last year's poor showing I feel that 2013 was the best year the 3DS will ever have, and had the best title the 3DS will ever have as well.

[NWR_insanolord]

The only way you can claim the 3DS library lacks volume is if you completely ignore the eShop. There might not be a ton of top tier stuff there, but there's a pretty significant crop of good games.

And part of the difference between our opinions seems to be our personal tastes. You're right, the DS was way better for RPGs, but those aren't a huge deal for me, while I'd say one of the biggest weaknesses of the original DS was platformers, which we've seen a lot more of on 3DS.

[ejamer]

Comparing the DS and 3DS libraries is an interesting discussion.


I feel like the DS library was much broader, including plenty of odd and experimental games (or non-games) along with a whole bunch of RPGs that were incredibly enjoyable. That gives it an edge in my mind. But even though the 3DS has a much smaller library of games, it has some very high points included in that library - and if you include digital releases that helps to make up for a lot of the missing breadth.


There is no clear winner in my opinion... but it's pretty awesome that 3DS is fully backwards compatible giving you the ability to play the best of both game libraries!

[fred13]

I've got to say, I'm a little disappointed to see Fire Emblem today instead of tomorrow (in other words not top 5) I probably would have put it at number 1 (although if you ask me again in a month it's possible I'd put Majora's Mask or Monster Hunter 4 there). However, I'm relieved to see that at least it is #6 which isn't bad at all.


As for the Mario conversation,
Personally 3D Land is my all time favorite Mario game (yes I own 64, Sunshine, Galaxy 1, Galaxy 2, and 3D World) followed closely by Galaxy 2 with 3D World a distant 3rd and probably Sunshine 4th.




Personally NSMB 2 is my favorite "new" Mario game followed closely by Luigi U, not Mario U or the DS one (they're good, but not as good as 2)


Mutant Mudds is an odd beast to me as I downloaded the demo and absolutely loved it a couple years ago. Since then I've almost bought it so many times it's not even funny, but I've never been able to pull the trigger.

[Triforce Hermit]

So Rune Factory 4 isn't going to be on this list?

Just me, but I didn't enjoy the DS library that much and enjoy the 3DS library more.

[pokepal148]

Get that Mario Kart 7 filth off this list pronto. That game is just a rushjob with poor track design and little content.

[Ian Sane]

The 3DS is a Nintendo system that I really don't have any issues with.  Okay it isn't perfect by any means but I find myself quite content with it.  Last gen was just endless frustration for me with both the Wii and DS constantly letting me down but my 3DS experience has been pretty great.  With the Wii and DS Nintendo was pushing hard to land the non-gamers and casuals and they would shoehorn in gimmicky control schemes.  The 3DS seems more conventional like it's just making good games.  Just the fact that the 3DS Zelda has normal controls shows the different approach.

Though I think some of it is more that the 3DS fits my life right now better than the DS did.  First of all I have an XL while I had an original model DS and bigger screen makes a major difference.  I've stuck mostly with RPGs on the 3DS which is a genre I feel works well on handhelds.  I COULD have easily done that on the DS but for some reason didn't.  And since I don't own a Wii U the 3DS has become my de facto main system.  I've always treated handhelds as an afterthought so I would play the big games and that's it.  On the 3DS I tend to pay more attention to it overall since I don't have a Nintendo console as my focus.  I've ignored the more "mainstream" games like Mario and actually find I'm enjoying myself more by doing so.

[fred13]

How is Advance Wars not on here!?!
Oh yea that's right Nintendo never made one of the 3DS. Dang you Intelligent Systems! 2 Fire Emblem games (don't get me wrong I loved Awakening) and no Advance Wars!
All I can say is Codename:S.T.E.A.M. better be REALLY good to make up for it!

[macverde]

How is Advance Wars not on here!?!
Oh yea that's right Nintendo never made one of the 3DS. Dang you Intelligent Systems! 2 Fire Emblem games (don't get me wrong I loved Awakening) and no Advance Wars!
All I can say is Codename:S.T.E.A.M. better be REALLY good to make up for it!

I feel the same way.... I really wish an advance wars 3ds.

but, after the demo, i'm totally sold about Codename STEAM.

2 fire emblem, codename and even pushmo/crashmo is not a problem. advance wars 3ds is probably better than sticker star (not talking about sales).

[Mop it up]

With eShop titles, this list has every right to be 20 entries. However, having New Super Mario Bros. 2 in the top 20 of the system is a good indicator of how barren the 3DS library is in comparison with its predecessor.

I have to agree, the 3DS just isn't living up to the legacy of the DS. Of course, as I always say, it's the friggin' DS, which is an extremely tough act to follow. Probably impossible. The 3DS is a good system in its own right, especially when judged on its own merits and not compared to the DS. But as someone who didn't have a DS and use my 3DS as my DS, I've bought and played way more DS games as I wait (and wait and wait) for anything worthwhile to come out on 3DS. I can't imagine my 3DS library ever coming close to the number of games I've amassed for DS.

[Wah]

With eShop titles, this list has every right to be 20 entries. However, having New Super Mario Bros. 2 in the top 20 of the system is a good indicator of how barren the 3DS library is in comparison with its predecessor.

I might as well post my own list.

20. The Keep
19. Resident Evil: Revelations
18. Kirby: Triple Deluxe
17. Rune Factory 4
!6. HarmoKnight
!5. Pokemon X and Y
14. The Starship Damrey
13. Fire Emblem: Awakening
12. Pushmo
11. Kid Icarus: Uprising
10. Mario Kart 7
9. Mighty Switch Force! 2
8. Crashmo
7. Shantae and the Pirate's Curse
6. Shin Megami Tensei IV
5. Crimson Shroud
4. Etrian Odyssey IV
3. Mutant Mudds
2. Super Smash Bros. for 3DS
1. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

just two things,
Sapphire and ruby is better then X/Y
and Link between worlds seriously!? I think Tingle's games are better!

[Khushrenada]

just two things,

I thought for sure it was going to be 1. In and 2. America. Glad that's over with.

[NWR_Neal]

Here's my personal list

1. Shovel Knight
2. A Link Between Worlds
3. Fantasy Life
4. Kid Icarus Uprising
5. Animal Crossing: NL
6. Super Smash Bros.
7. Theatrhythm Final Fantasy CC
8. Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon
9. Fire Emblem Awakening
10. Super Mario 3D Land
11. Shin Megami Tensei IV
12. Tomodachi Life
13. Kirby Triple Deluxe
14. Pokemon X/Y
15. Etrian Odyssey IV
16. VVVVVV
17. Mutant Mudds
18. Shantae and the Pirate's Curse
19. New Super Mario Bros. 2
20. Ocarina of Time 3D

Also, for any inquiring minds, if the overall NWR staff list were to go to 25 for some reason, the last 5 would have been...
VVVVVV
Pushmo
RE Revelaitons
SMT IV
Kirby Triple Deluxe

And to show off the diversity of top picks, we only had one game (our #1 game) that had more than 1 first-place vote out of the 10 staffers that sent in lists.

Hope you enjoyed this so far. We'll have a Wii U one coming soon.

[Evan_B]

Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire removed content that was key to me enjoying X and Y. Also, Hoenn is boring.

[Khushrenada]

Here's my personal list

1. Shovel Knight
2. A Link Between Worlds
3. Fantasy Life
4. Kid Icarus Uprising
5. Animal Crossing: NL
6. Super Smash Bros.
7. Theatrhythm Final Fantasy CC
8. Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon
9. Fire Emblem Awakening
10. Super Mario 3D Land
11. Shin Megami Tensei IV
12. Tomodachi Life
13. Kirby Triple Deluxe
14. Pokemon X/Y
15. Etrian Odyssey IV
16. VVVVVV
17. Mutant Mudds
18. Shantae and the Pirate's Curse
19. New Super Mario Bros. 2
20. Ocarina of Time 3D

Also, for any inquiring minds, if this list were to go to 25 for some reason, the last 5 would have been...
VVVVVV
Pushmo
RE Revelaitons
SMT IV
Kirby Triple Deluxe

And to show off the diversity of top picks, we only had one game (our #1 game) that had more than 1 first-place vote out of the 10 staffers that sent in lists.

Hope you enjoyed this so far. We'll have a Wii U one coming soon.

So, Triple Deluxe is both 13 and 25? A game so good it makes the list twice or just indicative of the lack of 3DS software?

[Khushrenada]

For that matter, VVVVVV is also 16 and 21 while SMT IV is both 11 and 24. I hope the ballot counters double checked those ballots!

[Soren]

List invalidated. Voter fraud detected.

[marvel_moviefan_2012]

I was at the game store ready to buy a 3DS, they were sold out of New 3DS all they had were regular and some special edition Yoshi one and a Smash Bros. one. Then I ended up getting the entire D&D 5th Edition core rule set instead. Oh well maybe next time.

[NWR_Neal]

Bah! Didn't make it clear: the 1-20 there was my personal list. The 21-25 were 5 more on the NWR Staff list.

[Khushrenada]

Oh. And here I thought Kirby may have done it and gotten the number 1 spot on this list.

Predictions of the top 5 then.

5. Kid Icarus
4. Animal Crossing: New Leaf
3. Super Mario Land 3D
2. A Link Between Worlds
1. Smash Bros. 3DS